Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9
Median Household Income
$54,095 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
136,754
Rockford
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, SC
Pros
29% less violent crime than Rockford
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 29°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($114,100 vs $226,200)
Rent averages $199/mo less ($906 vs $1,105)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbia
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 7.9%)
Median income trails Columbia by $3,351/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Median Income
$3,351
$54,095 vs $50,744/yr
Columbia
Violent Crime
29% lower
769.9 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.9% vs 9.0% unemployment
Columbia
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 92.9 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$112k less
$114,100 vs $226,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 54.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 13 and Rockford wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Columbia to Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $114,100 median home), income ($54,095 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Rockford, IL are about 720 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.